Google Drive Unveils Modern Video Player and Calendar Redesign Enhancements

Google is enhancing its cloud storage platform, Google Drive, with an updated video player that aligns with its Material Design 3 aesthetics. This new player introduces dedicated buttons for fast-forwarding and rewinding, making media navigation more user-friendly. The enhancement comes on the heels of the global rollout of inventory reporting in Google Drive earlier this month.

The redesigned media player features a sleek new layout that is more contemporary. Users can now jump ahead or rewind videos in 15-second increments using the newly incorporated buttons that sit next to the play/pause controls. Moreover, adjustments to playback speed and captions can be made directly, simplifying the user experience without needing to access deeper settings.

This advancement aims to enhance usability in preparation for Google Vids, an upcoming video editor that utilizes the capabilities of the Gemini language model for content creation. The new player is currently in an extended rollout phase for accounts using Rapid Release domains, with full visibility expected within 15 days. Those on Scheduled Release domains will start receiving it on November 18, with potential visibility within three days thereafter. All Google Workspace clients, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and personal Google account users will have access to this feature.

Beyond the video player updates, Google has introduced a fresh appearance for its Calendar application. This update includes modern buttons, improved dialogues, and an enhanced sidebar. Additionally, the typography has been refined using Google's uniquely crafted typefaces, allowing users to choose from light mode, dark theme, or a default setting based on their device.

These improvements are set to enhance the entire user experience across the Google Calendar web platform, including in the task list view, making interactions more efficient and visually appealing.